Amonga99 Interview: Army Troop, AI Bots, and the Solo Dev Path Behind an Indie FPS

Amonga99 on Army Troop, solo development, AI bots, and building an indie FPS from scratch

Meet Amonga99, the solo indie developer behind Army Troop, Fix Gaming Channel’s Best Game of 2023.

Blending the grit of classic military shooters with modern gameplay, Army Troop brings back the intensity of early Call of Duty and Medal of Honor. With a focus on realism, performance, and player feedback, Amonga99 built one of the more memorable indie FPS titles we covered during that period.

In this interview, we explore his development journey, design choices, solo work ethic, player feedback, performance mindset, and what came next, from AI bots to remasters and cross-genre experiments.

Editor’s note: This interview was originally published during an earlier stage of Army Troop. The game has since moved beyond Early Access, and the current Steam listing now uses Army Troop Studios as the developer/publisher name.

Army Troop Gameplay

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Fire On Fight Gameplay

Personal Journey into Game Development

Q: Your transition from gaming enthusiast to acclaimed developer is inspiring. Can you share a pivotal moment or key influence that propelled you from player to creator?

A: A friend told me for the first time that software for making video games existed when I was a child. It was called GameMaker from gamemaker.nl at that time, created by Marc Overmars. This masterpiece of software was the starting point of my developer life.

Philosophy Behind Game Audio Choices

Q: In Army Troop and Fire on Fight, the emphasis on realistic sound effects over music creates an immersive battlefield ambiance. What drives your audio choices, and how do you see them enhancing the player’s immersion?

A: My audio choices are inspired by modern war game sound effects. Playing these games makes me really love them, so I try to bring that same feeling to my players.

Crafting Games Solo vs. Team Collaboration

Q: Behind every great game is a great creator or team. Do you prefer the solo journey in bringing your visions to life, or is collaboration part of your creative arsenal? How has this approach shaped your games?

A: I prefer working solo so I can create every part of the game as I see fit. Collaboration requires trustworthy people with great skills, and sharing revenue can be challenging, so I work solo.

Engaging with Player Feedback

Q: Player feedback can be a goldmine for developers. Can you share how feedback has directly influenced a game’s development? Is there a particular piece of advice from the community that stands out?

A: Listening to the community is key to making a game perfect. For example, players helped me discover FPS drop issues in the initial release of Fire on Fight. A player named Rommel on Steam identified that the issue was CPU-related, not GPU-related. Thanks to the community, the engine is now more robust with fewer bugs.

Essential Skills in Game Development

Q: Beyond the obvious need for creativity and technical skills, what do you consider the unsung heroes of game development skills? How do these play into your work?

A: If you enjoy playing games, that’s all you need to start. Just download Unity, and your life becomes easier.

From Gaming to Game Development

Q: Many of our readers dream of making their own games. Having successfully made that leap, what advice would you offer to those looking to transition from gaming or content creation into game development?

A: Download Unity software and start learning today. In a few months, you can do it. Unity makes things easier every day, so why wait?

Future Projects and Excitement

Q: Looking ahead, can you tease any upcoming projects or new genres you’re exploring? What excites you most about your next gaming adventure? Additionally, considering your utilization of AI “players” in your games, how do you envision AI impacting your work and the gaming industry in the near future?

A: Upcoming projects include:

• Army Troop Remastered
• Army Troop 2: Modern Guns
• Polygon Bit Battle Royale
• Lethal Company Ghost Reconnaissance

For AI, I use my programming to simulate players as bots. I don’t use modern AI, so I’m not sure how it will impact the industry.

Indie Versus Major Studio Path

Q: In the game development world, creators often face a choice between pursuing an indie path or joining a major studio. From your perspective, what are the most significant benefits and challenges of working as an indie developer? Have you ever considered or been approached to bring your talents to a larger studio, and what factors influence your decision in this regard?

A: I prefer working as an indie developer to create exactly what I love. I’ve had bad experiences working for large studios, where you are pressured to follow directives. Despite the marketing challenges, I prefer the freedom of the indie path.

Cross-Genre Exploration

Q: When venturing into a new genre, what’s your process for capturing the essence of that style, and how do you ensure it resonates with the game’s intended audience? For instance, your game Super Spyroxo Adventures: Island of Dnfoo stands in stark contrast to Army Troop.

A: I experiment with different genres to see what sells best on Steam and because I’m a big fan of old games. I occasionally release classic arcade games while keeping an eye on modern games, like Army Troop Remastered, to stay relevant.

Inspiration Beyond Gaming

Q: Could you share some unconventional inspirations behind your games? How have aspects of film, literature, art, or even personal experiences influenced your game design and development?

A: I am inspired by old arcade games and modern games like Call of Duty. I try to blend modern graphics with the classic feel.

Platform Expansion and Accessibility

Q: Your games have captured the hearts of many within the PC gaming community. Are there plans to bring your unique gaming experiences to consoles like Xbox, PlayStation, or the Nintendo Switch?

A: I am still investigating this. Maybe I will bring them to consoles in the future.

High-Performance Rigs for Development

Q: What does a game developer require from a high-performance rig, such as one equipped with 16 CPU cores, 128GB RAM, and a powerful GPU like the 4090? Can you get by with less powerful hardware, and if so, what are the essential hardware specifications for game development?

A: Wow, such hardware is a beast! I develop everything with a MacBook Pro i7, 4GB GPU, and 16GB RAM. Developing on weaker hardware ensures the game works well on stronger PCs. If you test on a powerful PC, the game might perform poorly on weaker PCs.

Networking and Inspirations

Q: Before we part ways, I’d love to hear if there are any fellow developers, teams, actors, sound engineers, or publishers you admire or find particularly intriguing. Big or small, if they’re crafting interesting experiences, we’d be thrilled to invite them to join our ever-growing family of game enthusiasts and creators. Any shout-outs or recommendations for our next potential guest?

A: Please try to find Marc Overmars, the creator of GameMaker. He inspired me to become a developer.

Army Troop Game Info

Army Troop

Full Release: December 12, 2025

Early Access Release: September 16, 2023

Genre: Action, Indie, Massively Multiplayer, FPS

Current Steam Developer / Publisher: Army Troop Studios

Platform: PC via Steam

Related Reading

If you missed our full writeup on why Army Troop was named Best Game of 2023, read Army Troop — The Best Game of 2023. For more conversations with solo developers, visit our Developer Interviews hub.

Final Thoughts

Amonga99’s story is a reminder that a solo developer can still build something memorable by staying focused, listening to players, and working with the hardware and tools available. From GameMaker inspiration to Unity development, from performance fixes to AI bots, this interview shows how much of indie development comes down to persistence and problem-solving.

A huge thank you to Amonga99 for taking the time to speak with us and share his story. His passion, dedication, and creativity continue to inspire, and we will be watching what he builds next.

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